Front porch of the Lowcountry gets in the “swing” for spring
Walterboro, S.C. – The City of Walterboro, known for its historic charm and abundant natural resources, has a full lineup of events and outings for the spring, encouraging residents and visitors to get ready to take in all that the city, or the “front porch of the Lowcountry,” has to offer during this beautiful time of the year.
Saturday, March 10
On Saturday, March 10, ETV’s Naturalist and USC Adjunct Professor Rudy Mancke will join the Friends of the Great Swamp Sanctuary to celebrate Great Swamp Sanctuary Day. Starting at 9 a.m., Mancke will share his love of ecosystems during a “Walk and Talk” in the Great Swamp Sanctuary. This event will begin at the De Treville Street entrance (399 De Treville Street). Tickets go on sale locally beginning February 15 at Downtown Books & Espresso, located at 213 E. Washington Street. Contact Downtown Books & Espresso at 843-549-2241. Tickets will also be on sale at the Colleton Museum and the S.C. Artisans Center. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for students 12 and under. For further information, contact the S.C. Artisans Center at 843-549-0011.
Saturday, April 14
As the weather continues to warm up, and things are in full bloom, the Friends of the Great Swamp Sanctuary will entice nature enthusiasts to get outside for another “Walk and Talk” through the Great Swamp Sanctuary, this time with Master Gardener Genia Floyd. This is a free event and will be held on Saturday, April 14, at 9 a.m., beginning at the De Treville Street entrance. Those seeking additional information should contact the Welcome Center at 843-538-4353 or visit www.walterborosc.org.
Saturday, April 21
Later that month, the fourth annual Walterboro Wings n’ Wheels will showcase over one hundred aircraft and show cars. Scheduled for Saturday, April 21, the event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Walterboro Lowcountry Regional Airport. Admission is free. Donations will benefit the MUSC Children’s Hospital Fund. Additional information may be found at www.wings-n-wheels.org.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, April 27, 28 and 29
Meanwhile, the last weekend of April brings the return of the annual Colleton County Rice Festival. Held in downtown Walterboro, this three-day event will feature arts and crafts, food, fireworks, music and a dog show, and promises fun for the entire family. In honor of the festival, the annual Rice Festival Parade will be held on Saturday, April 28, at 11 a.m. Another signature event includes the 5K run and 5K walk, which begin at 8 a.m. that Saturday at the old Post Office on Washington Street. The Mile Fun Run will begin at the same location at 9 a.m. Cash prizes will be awarded to both a male and female finisher at an awards celebration. For more information, visit www.scfestival-rice.com.
Wednesday, May 2
Come May, the City of Walterboro will host the 10th annual Downtown Walterboro Criterium, an international bicycling competition that is part of the USA Crits Speed Week. This is a free event, and visitors are invited to watch some of the best cyclists in the world race through the streets of downtown Walterboro. The race will take place on Wednesday, May 2, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. There will also be a children’s race, and special needs bikes will be awarded through the Little Red Dog Foundation and the Walterboro Fire Department. For additional information, visit www.walterborosc.org, or call the Welcome Center at 843-538-4353.
Saturday, May 12
On Saturday, May 12, the Friends of the Great Swamp Sanctuary will host a “Walk and Talk” in the Great Swamp Sanctuary, this time with Biologist Travis Folk. This is a free event that will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 12, at the De Treville Street entrance. For further information, contact Celeste Stone at 843-549-7658.
Friday, May 18, and Saturday, May 19
Always popular, the 6th annual Walterboro Antiques, History & Arts Festival is planned for May 18 and May 19. To kick things off, a Pig Pickin’ will be held on Friday, May 18, from 6-8 p.m. at the South Carolina Artisans Center. Tickets for the barbeque cost $10.00 per person. Meanwhile, antique vendors will be on site both Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Washington and Lucas Streets. There will be antique appraisals, carriage tours through the historic district, and an antique tractor show and parade. Also on Saturday, the grand opening of the Walterboro Farmer’s Market is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Additionally, a Folk Art Celebration will be held that Saturday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the South Carolina Artisans Center, located at 318 Wichman Street, while a S.C. Watermedia Society Show will be going on at the Colleton Museum, located in the newly renovated building at 506 E. Washington Street from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and from 12 to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
The Lowcountry Juried Art Exhibition also opens this weekend. This free event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. An awards reception will follow at 6 p.m. Visit www.scartisanscenter.com, or call 843-549-0011 for more information.
Established in 1826, the City of Walterboro is hailed as the “front porch of the Lowcountry,” with its historic charm, plentiful natural resources and warm Southern hospitality. The area around the city, rich with forests and vast quantities of water, is also known as the gateway to the ACE Basin, one of the largest undeveloped estuaries on the East Coast. Centrally located between Charleston, Savannah, Hilton Head, and Columbia, the city is home to many historic buildings, antique stores, the Great Swamp Sanctuary and the S.C. Artisans Center, designated by the state’s legislature as the “Official South Carolina Folk Art and Craft Center.” In addition, the city is home to the largest general aviation airport in the state. Walterboro serves as the economic heart of Colleton County and maintains a small-town Americana atmosphere. For more information, call 843-549-2545 or visit www.walterborosc.org.
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